Robert "Bob" Wendell Wolfe

Robert “Bob” Wendell Wolfe, 95, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at 11:43 p.m. in Cincinnati, Ohio, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 3, 1929, in Newark, New Jersey, the fourth child of Paul Revere Wolfe and Anne Catherine Burnett Wolfe. Born just before the Great Depression, his early years were shaped by hardship, instilling in him a lifelong commitment to modest living—guided by the principle of living not just within his means but beneath them.

Bob’s greatest joy came from the deep bonds he shared with his family. He was a devoted son and brother, as well as father to three daughters: Ruth Anne Wolfe, Jennifer Wolfe, and Elizabeth “Liz” Wolfe. A vigorous, hardworking, and generous man, he lived a life of intellectual curiosity, problem-solving, and passionate support for the people and causes he cared about.

Raised in North Arlington, New Jersey, Bob began his life of service at an early age, walking more than a mile daily with his father to tend the family’s “Depression Garden” and earning his first wages by carrying groceries in a wagon for tips. During his teenage years, he worked at a gas station, where he developed a lifelong love of automobiles and mechanical systems.

Encouraged by his teachers to pursue engineering, Bob earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, in 1951, followed by a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from Drexel Institute in Philadelphia in 1955. He later pursued graduate coursework in engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, along with classes on William Shakespeare, reflecting an interest he cultivated in his later years.

Bob began his 43-year career with Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1951, specializing in thermodynamics and energy efficiency. He started at the Aviation Gas Turbine Division near Philadelphia, designing gas turbines for the U.S. Navy. When the division relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, he moved with it, eventually earning a position as a liaison engineer at Rolls Royce in England. He and his wife, Dolores Karola Wolfe, spent 13 months there, traveling extensively throughout Europe. During this time, he discovered the game of squash and strengthened his interest in tennis.

Upon returning to the United States, Bob joined Westinghouse’s Advanced Design and Development Division, where he earned his first patent for innovations in centrifugal compressors for industrial refrigeration. In 1960, he moved with the division to Pittsburgh with Dolores and their newborn daughter, Ruth Anne. He spent the rest of his career at the Westinghouse Research and Development Center in Churchill, earning an Award of Excellence for his many contributions. Over his career, Bob earned five patents for Westinghouse and two additional private patents. 

In 1969, Bob and his family moved to a 148-acre farm near West Newton, Pennsylvania, known as the Wolfe Family Sheep Farm. There, he applied his mechanical expertise to the demands of a working farm. After his divorce, he returned to Pittsburgh and continued his career at Westinghouse while also nurturing his interests in Shakespeare, theater, and environmental advocacy. Despite the divorce, he remained a dedicated father, spending every weekend, holiday, and major life event with his daughters.

A man of varied interests, Bob authored two books: The Bard in Brief: Short Quotations from the Plays of William Shakespeare and For the Third Millennium: A Prescription to Restore the Planet Earth. The first reflected his love of Shakespeare, while the second addressed overpopulation, the oppression of women and children, and environmental conservation.

In his later years, Bob enjoyed supporting Pittsburgh’s cultural institutions with his longtime companion, Nancy Hosford. Together, they attended the ballet and supported live theater. Their shared love of travel, hiking, and the outdoors took them to destinations such as Alaska, California, and New Hampshire. For 40 years, he anchored an annual family vacation, including a major family reunion in Minnesota in 2000. Bob also stayed active, playing singles tennis until the age of 90.

Bob leaves behind a legacy of integrity, commitment, and dedication, inspiring all who knew him with his kindness, generosity, and work ethic. To quote his favorite author, Shakespeare, “This was a man.”

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Anne Wolfe; his siblings, Paul Jr., Edith, and Dorothy Eastwick; his wife, Dolores Wolfe; and his companion, Nancy Hosford.

He is survived by his daughters: Ruth Anne Wolfe and her husband, Andrew Jewell, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Jennifer Wolfe of Jacksonville, Florida; and Elizabeth Wolfe and her husband, Jonathan Arancio, of New York City. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Camille Guidry and Matthew Guidry of New York; Julian Arancio and Isabel Arancio of New York; and Amelia Wolfe-Jewell of Cincinnati. Other survivors include his nephews Larry, Richard, and David Eastwick; his niece Joan Eastwick; his nephews Tom, Steve, and Jamie Wolfe of Minneapolis, MN; and Nancy Hosford’s daughter, Holly Smith, and her husband, Ed Smith, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, along with their sons, Garrison and Benjamin.

A private burial was held at Penn Forest Natural Burial Park in Verona, PA, as a final tribute to his environmental concerns. A memorial service will be held later this year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive Suite 100, Arlington VA 22203, www.nature.org.